Electrolytic apparatus.



R. L. WHITEHAEAD.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS. APPLICATION 'FILED JUNE 22, 19L)- 1',287,1 56. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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2 Egg! A A A INVENTOR W LII/WM P BY ATTORNEYS R. L. WHITEHEAD.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, {M5- 1,287,156. ',Patented Dec.10, 1918.

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A TTORNEYS useful improvements in STATES.

PATENT. OFFICE ROBERT L. wnrrnnaan, or PERTH annoy, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTROLYTIC arram'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

' Application filed June 22, 1915. Serial No. 85,500.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT L. WHITE- HEAD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Perth Amboy, county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

relates to certain new and electrolytic apparatus intended primarily for use in the electrolytic refining of tin and the production of fiuosilicate electrolytic solutions from impure tin anodes. In my prior application, Serial No. 25,671, filed May 4, 1915, I have described the production of a suitable electrolyte from impure tin anodes, and the subsequent utilization of such electrolyte for the production electro-deposition, a solu- My invention dissolving the metallic tin and a protective agent such as sulfuric acid being present for converting the lead contained as an impurity in the anode into an insoluble form. The novel apparatus ofthe present invention is intended for use in the production of such an electrolyte by the process described and claimed in said prior application.

The novel apparatus of the present invention, in its preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 represents a sectional viewof said apparatus on a plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that they show a plurality of electrolytic vats or receptacles A arranged alongside of each other and provided with a protective lining a of mastic or other material neutral to the electrolyte. Within these receptacles are located the series of impure tin anodes b alternating with a. corresponding series of negative terminals or cathodes c. The busbar with which the primary series of anodes makes connection is indicated at d. The negative terminals or cathodes c are contained within cells or compartments e of porous earthenware or the like, supported upon the bottom of the vat upon the glass lnsulator blocks f. These porous compartments are spaced'apart from the cathodes and form porous diaphragms between'the anodes and the cathodes, which will prevent circulation of the fluosilicate electrolyte therethrough. To maintain the porous cells or compartments in position upon the glass insulator blocks, the cathode bars 9 are provided with clips h of sheet metal. So also, clips 2' serve to support the cathode sheets from the cathode bars. The porous compartments are thus held in position and are spaced from the cathodes.

In using the apparatus for producing electrolytes from tin anodes, the negative terminals 0r cathodes may be of tin, copper, lead or other appropriate metal. may conveniently be of the same impure tin The anode which is subsequently utilized during the main electro-deposition rocess. By using a solution of hydrofluosilicic acid for dissolving the tin and forming the electrolyte, and by adding a small amount of sulfuric acid, I have found that a solution containing 20% hydrofluosilicie acid will take up about 6% by weight of tin, and thus give an electrolyte suitable for the subsequent electrolytic-process.

It will be understood that an electric current of suitable voltage and amperage will be used, adapted to promote the desired solution ofthe tin and production of the tin electrolyte. In the presence of small amounts of sulfuric acid the electrolyte thus produced from imp "re tin anodes contains the tin in [solution without containing lead. It is, therefore, adapted to deposit pure tin upon cathodes in the subsequent depositing operation.

The number of vats or receptacles can be varied within rather wide limits. The anodes and negative terminals or cathodes are both readily removable, and the cathodes can be removed simultaneously with the porous compartments or independently thereof, as desired. The arrangement is such that during the operation of theapparatus, the anodes and cathodes are properly spaced apart and maintained in the desired relative positions with respect to each other and with respect to the porousdiaphragm of the porous compartments.

After an electrolyte of suitablestrength has been produced, the porous compartments can be removed and suitable cathodes introduced for the subsequent depositing operation. During the roduction of the electrolyte, as alread indicated, solution of the tin is desired, an the apparatus of the present invention is particularly advantageous for the production of such solutions. When the impure tin anodes are used up they are readily replaced with new ones. If a protective agent, such as sulfuric acid, is present during the production of the electrolyte, the lead contained in the impure tin anodes will tend to cling to the anodes in the form of lead sulfate which can be removed by re movin the anodes after a coating of sufficient t ickness has been produced.

While the apparatus illustrated and de scribed is the preferred embodiment of the invention, yet it will be understood that variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .as set forth in the accompanying claim.

What I claim is:

An electrolytic apparatus for the-production of tin fluosilicate electrolytes from tin anodes com risin taining a ydro uos-ilicic acid electrolyte and having removable cathodes and removable tin anodes therein, alternating with each' other, and separate and removable porous compartments inclosing the cathodes and spaced apart therefrom and forming porousdiaphragms between the anodes and cathodes of a nature to prevent circulation of the fluosilicate electrolyte therethrough from the anode to the cathode com artments, whereby solution of the tin ano es in the fluosilicate electrolyte is effected without de osition of the tin upon the cathodes;

.su stantially as described.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature.

R BERT L. WHITEHEAD.

anelectrolytic vat con 

